He was first linked with it a year ago, but Matt Damon’s participation in Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace biopic has finally been confirmed – by the director himself.
"Matt accepted the challenge," Soderbergh told a French newspaper at the Deauville Film Festival, which could refer to Damon putting up shelves round Soderbergh’s gaff, or his taking the role of Scott Thorsen, a lover of Liberace’s, who outed the flamboyant pianist via a palimony suit in 1982. We’re guessing it’s the latter.
Michael Douglas is already on board as Liberace, the arch showman who had a wildly successful career, on TV and in live performance, until his death in 1987.
"We've already done some costume and wardrobe tests on Michael, and they're very, very, very good." Soderbergh added. "I swear to you, Michael amazed me. He crushed it."
The as-yet untitled film, written by Richard LaGravenese, will focus primarily on that court case, which forced Liberace to come out of the closet, a revelation which stunned many, including Austin Powers (“I can’t believe Liberace was gay! The ladies loved him!”). But it will also take in aspects of the great entertainer’s live act, which often featured him driving to his piano in a Rolls-Royce. Beat that, Jamie Cullum.
No word yet on when filming will start, especially now that Damon has also signed on to star in Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter. But if costume tests are happening, expect some concrete news on that soon.